Global Youth Ambassador emerges from Bobonong
Maranyane Ngwanaamotho | Tuesday April 8, 2014 10:32
In her new role, the 24 year-old will advocate for children and young people to remain in school so they can use their skills and knowledge to improve their lives and realise their full potential. She presents herself as a living example of what education can do to transform someone from a disadvantaged background. Simula describes the World-at-School campaign as a digital mobilisation and communication initiative that harnesses the efforts and energies of the many NGOs, teachers’ organisations, faith groups, individuals and youth campaigners to make education a reality for all of the children in the world.
World-at-School ambassadors mobilise and organise other young people to stand up for education, she says. They make their voices heard in their communities by organising events, participating in campaigns, writing letters to the editor, writing blogs, running petition drives and taking part in other campaign activities.
They write news stories and share photographs and videos from events and projects for the global ‘A World-at-School’ website and social media channels which reach 50,000 to 100,000 people each week, she says.
Despite having been raised by an unemployed mother along with her five siblings, Simula, persevered to achieve her educational dreams. She wants to ensure access to education for millions of children around the world who like her, are experiencing challenges attending school due to poverty and other social disadvantages.
She believes nothing is impossible and often presents herself as an example to other children from similar backgrounds. “I have always worked hard and set myself apart. Young Leaders Organisation consequently selected me as a Young Leader Ambassador for 2013,” she says.
She has served as an internship officer at the Careers, Counselling, Health and Wellness Department at the University of Botswana. She has also been involved in the Gamodubu Charitable Project, which aims to extending a helping hand to disadvantaged children in the area.
She says other children can learn from her that it is possible to turn dreams into reality despite the circumstances. “I was given an award while at the University of Botswana as one of the outstanding students in the Department of Social Work,” she says.
Recently she was awarded the 2014 W.K Kellogg Southern African scholarship to further her studies at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.